LOCAL government secretary Eric Pickles has stepped into the row over the proposed demolition of the Welsh Streets – warning Liverpool council not to ignore opposition to knocking the houses down.

The Dingle homes, which include Ringo Starr’s former house in Madryn Street, are earmarked for destruction under the controversial Pathfinder scheme.

Mr Pickles said he recognised the case put forward by anti-demolition campaigners for renovation rather than repair.

But council leader Cllr Joe Anderson said that across the board many more homes would be renovated than demolished.

Pressure groups like Save Britain’s Heritage – which last week wrote to the government to apply for Starr’s former home to be listed – and local Welsh Streets campaigners will hope to make the most of Mr Pickles’ comments when the demolition plans go before the council’s planning committee.

Mr Pickles said: “We recognise the public concern about the last government’s Pathfinder scheme having too great an emphasis on demolitions encouraged by targets set by Whitehall.

“There is a powerful financial and environmental case for renovating rather than demolishing houses, as well as protecting our Victorian heritage.

“Liverpool council needs to listen to the concerns of local people and conservation groups such as Save Britain’s Heritage.”

The Pathfinder policy was devised by the office of former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, and has seen thousands of houses around the North and Midlands demolished to make way for new builds undertaken by a clutch of major housebuilding firms.

Welsh Streets campaigner Nina Edge said the council should take Mr Pickles’ advice and consider other options, like renovation, although the council claims it would cost around £150,000 to restore just one of the dilapidated Victorian terraced houses.

Ms Edge said: “The decision to pull the Welsh Streets down was made five years ago, before the credit crunch, recession, public spending cuts or housing shortage.

“Mr Pickles’ comments reflect a growing consensus that in this light the quicker, more economic, and environmentally sound route of renovation should be reconsidered.”

But some living in the Welsh Streets disagree.

Mary Huxom, who lived in nearby Powis Street for 68 years, said the properties were not fit for habitation.

Mrs Huxom added: “Refurbishment is not an option. Nobody wants to buy them, as many residents discovered if they tried to sell in the recent past.

“Most had refurbishment done in the late 1970s, which did not solve the problems of damp or subsidence.”

Mr Pickles’ comments, council leader Cllr Anderson claimed, showed a lack of understanding of the issues.

Cllr Anderson added: “He doesn’t exactly know what’s going on, because why else would he be telling us to do what we’re already doing?

“We have consulted with residents and they’ve encouraged – in fact, they’ve demanded – that we go ahead with progress on the scheme.

“You would have to sell properties at around £50,000 or £60,000 which could cost up to £130,000 to refurbish. That seems to me the economics of the madhouse.

“The heritage argument is basically out of touch with the reality of what people want.”